LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

The projection of the Asura girl faded from the sky, her radiant image dissolving into the ether.

As the last echoes of her voice vanished, the atmosphere within the Stonehooves Tribe grew thick with dread.

The reality of their situation was settling in like a weight pressing down on their chests.

Lyerin could feel the panic simmering in the air, thick and palpable.

Everyone in the tribe—men, women, and children alike—stood frozen, their eyes wide with terror.

Whispers spread like wildfire among the tribe members.

"We're doomed," a young woman whispered, clutching her child tightly against her chest. Her voice trembled as if uttering the words made them more real.

"We're the weakest here," an elder man muttered, his face pale. "Did you see the others? They're monsters compared to us!"

"They're going to slaughter us the moment they get the chance. We don't even stand a chance against the beasts, let alone the other tribes!" another voice echoed in agreement.

Fear flickered in the eyes of the tribe members as they huddled together, murmuring in hushed tones, their voices rising in panic with every passing second.

Lyerin watched them from his vantage point atop the centaur statue, his face unreadable, while Corora sat stiffly on his shoulder, her grip on him tightening with every tremor of fear around them.

"They're right," a man with a spear in hand said, his voice shaking as he gripped the weapon like it was his only lifeline. "We're nothing compared to them. We don't have the strength or the numbers. We're dead before this even starts."

"Stop it!" another voice snapped, though the fear in his tone betrayed his own uncertainty. "We can't lose hope yet! Maybe there's a way..."

"What way?" A woman shot back, her eyes wide with desperation. "Did you hear what she said? We have to survive against waves of beasts and fight all those monsters out there. We're not strong enough!"

Panic began to set in as their voices rose, louder and more frantic.

People looked around at each other, searching for reassurance they couldn't find.

The tremors of fear rippled through the crowd like a plague, infecting each person one by one.

Suddenly, Sophia stepped forward, making her way through the crowd toward Lyerin.

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Her face was pale, her eyes wide with worry, but she held herself with more composure than most of the others.

She reached Lyerin's side, glancing at the trembling masses, then at him. "Lyerin," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "what are we going to do?"

Lyerin didn't respond immediately, his eyes still fixed on the horizon.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips before he turned to her, his expression hard to read beneath the shadow that his hood cast over his face. "Sophia," he said calmly, his voice steady amidst the chaos, "come closer."

Sophia hesitated for a moment, glancing at Corora, who was still perched on Lyerin's shoulder.

The sight of her made Sophia's heart tighten.

Guilt flickered in her eyes as she walked timidly toward him, taking slow, cautious steps.

She could feel Corora's gaze on her, and the tension between them weighed heavy. But now wasn't the time for personal conflicts.

They were all on the same sinking ship.

As she stood next to Lyerin, he beckoned her even closer. "Closer," he said, his tone insistent.

Sophia swallowed her hesitation and moved until she was standing right beside him. Her shoulder brushed against his, and she couldn't help but steal a glance at Corora, offering her an apologetic look.

Corora, for her part, merely shifted uncomfortably, but said nothing.

Lyerin smirked faintly. "I have a plan," he mumbled, his voice low and quiet. "But I need you to trust me."

Sophia's brows furrowed in confusion, her heart beating fast in her chest. "A plan?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and fear. "What plan, Lyerin? How can we possibly survive this?"

Before Lyerin could answer, the ground beneath them trembled violently.

Rumble!

The earth shook with a low, deep rumble that reverberated through the air, causing the tribe members to gasp and stumble.

"What was that!?" someone cried out in terror.

"Is this it? Is this the start?" another voice shouted, panic clear in their tone.

The trembling grew stronger with each passing second, the ground vibrating beneath their feet.

People clung to each other, their faces pale with fear.

Some dropped to their knees, clutching at the dirt as if they could hold on to it and keep themselves grounded amidst the chaos.

"It's coming!" a man screamed. "The beasts! The beasts are coming!" His voice was frantic, bordering on hysteria as the tremors became more violent.

"Stay calm!" someone tried to shout, but their own voice cracked with fear.

The panic spread like wildfire. People began running, their movements frantic and desperate.

Some grabbed whatever weapons they could find—makeshift spears, clubs, anything they thought might offer some semblance of protection. But it was clear in their eyes that none of them believed it would be enough.

The earth shook again, harder this time. A loud, deep rumbling noise echoed from the distance, growing louder with every passing second.

It was as if the very planet itself was awakening to the chaos that was about to unfold.

The air grew thick with dread, the anticipation almost unbearable.

Sophia turned to Lyerin, her face pale with fear. "Lyerin, what do we do?" she whispered urgently.

Lyerin's smirk faded, and his expression grew serious. He could feel Corora trembling on his shoulder, and he could see the fear etched on Sophia's face. But he remained calm, his mind calculating.

"It's starting," he muttered under his breath. "Stay close to me."

The trembling grew even more intense, and the fear within the tribe escalated.

People were screaming now, shouting prayers, curses, anything they thought might help.

The ground quaked beneath them, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with the oncoming danger.

"What's happening!?" someone shouted. "We're all going to die!"

"Calm down!" a voice called out, though it was shaky with terror. "We can't panic now!"

But the trembling only worsened.

The sound of the rumbling was deafening now, like the roar of a thousand storms converging upon them.

People fell to the ground, clutching their heads, their bodies trembling with fear.

The very air around them seemed to hum with impending doom.

Then, just as the trembling reached its peak, the noise stopped.

The earth went still, and for a brief, heart-stopping moment, there was silence.

And then they saw it.

From the shadows of the horizon, a massive creature appeared.

Its towering form loomed over the landscape, its dark, hulking body casting a shadow that stretched across the land.

It moved slowly, its footsteps causing the ground to quake beneath it. Its eyes, glowing with an eerie light, scanned the trembling tribe below, as if it could already taste their fear.

The people of the Stonehooves Tribe stared in horror, their hearts pounding in their chests.

The sheer size of the creature was enough to make even the bravest among them feel insignificant. Its skin was rough and scarred, its muscles bulging with power.

Its claws, sharp and glistening, could tear through stone with ease.

One by one, the tribe members began to back away, their legs shaking so badly that they could barely stand.

Some of them collapsed to the ground, their bodies going limp with terror.

Others fell to their knees, clutching their heads, unable to process what they were seeing.

Lyerin stood tall, his eyes fixed on the creature with a calm, calculating gaze. While everyone else around him trembled in fear, he remained still, unflinching.

Corora gripped his shoulder tightly, her body trembling, but Lyerin showed no signs of fear. He simply smiled.

"Of course," Lyerin muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible amidst the rising panic. "It begins."

The creature let out a deafening roar, its voice shaking the very foundations of the earth.

The tribe recoiled, their fear intensifying.

Every single one of them felt like fainting, their knees weak, their hearts ready to give out.

But not Lyerin.